Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/270

 wrote telling me that our Confession, which our Philip drew up, was read by Dr. Christian Beyer before his Imperial Majesty and the Princes and Bishops of the Roman Empire in the Emperor’s palace. The Elector of Saxony, Margrave George of Brandenburg, John Frederick the Younger, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, the towns of Nurnberg and Reutlingen, etc., all signed the Confession.

The Imperial party is now debating whether they shall answer it or not.

Many bishops wish peace, and pay no attention to Eck’s and his friends’ proposals. One bishop said at a private gathering, “It is only the truth — we cannot deny that.”

The Archbishop of Mayence is much praised for his love of peace; and Duke Henry of Brunswick said to Philip, whom he invited to dine with him in an easy way, that he could not deny the articles of the bread and wine in the sacrament, the marriage of the priests, etc. And we hear that no one at the Diet was kinder and more moderate than the Emperor, who entertained our princes sumptuously and paid them every attention. Philip writes, one cannot express the great love every one feels towards the Emperor. God grant that, as the first Emperor was the worst of Emperors, this last may be the best. Let us only go on praying. For the power of our prayers is being manifestly displayed at present. Tell Cordatus and the others this, for it is their due. The Lord be with you. Greet all friends. MARTIN LUTHER.

CCXXX
TO CONRAD CORDATUS, PREACHER AT ZWICKAU

The reading of the Confession.

July 6, l530.

Grace and peace! You have here, my dear Cordatus, a living and a dead letter, viz. Horning’s and my letter to your Bishop, from which you will learn all I know about